Game ball lacing

ABSTRACT

A game ball including a casing and a lacing. The casing has a laced region. The lacing is coupled to the laced region of the casing. The lacing has an exposed surface comprised of an outer material that is compressible, resilient, and tactile. The outer material has a modulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm 2  and a tensile strength between 100 and 650 kg/cm 2 . At least a portion of the lacing can have an exposed pebbled surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a laced game ball. Inparticular, the present invention relates to an improved lacing for alaced game ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Laced game balls, such as footballs, are well known and areincluded among the most popular game balls in the United States.Footballs typically include an inner inflatable air bladder and an outercasing having a longitudinally extending, elongate slot. The air bladderis inserted into the casing through the slot and secured within theouter casing by a lacing. The lacing resembles a shoelace and typicallyis made of one or more leather strips, braided fibers, or braided fibershaving an outer latex coating. When assembled, the lacing generallyoutwardly extends from the casing forming a number of raised ridges thatfacilitate grasping and passing of the football. The lacing furtherfacilitates a player's ability to impart a spin onto the football duringpassing thereby producing a spiral trajectory of the ball. The spiraltrajectory generally improves the distance of a thrown football.

[0003] In football, as in many other sports, the gripping and tactilecharacteristics of the ball can considerably affect the performance ofthe participating players. In particular, the lacing of a footballsignificantly contributes to the football's gripping and tactilecharacteristics, and, not surprisingly, to the player's ability to passthe ball accurately and for distance. The lacing also typically plays arole in the player's ability to catch or to hold on to the football.Further, because football games are typically played outdoors, inunpredictable and inclement weather conditions including rain, sleet andsnow, the player's ability to adequately grip the ball is particularlydependent upon the gripping and tactile characteristics of the ball andthe lacing.

[0004] Lacings on earlier football designs typically included leatherstrips or braided fibers, such as cotton fibers. These lacing materialssufficiently enclosed the slot and retained the bladder within the outercasing, but they generally did not wear well, could become slippery whenwet, and portions of the lacings could be shifted or dislodged duringuse. Existing lacings in more recent football designs are typicallyformed of braided fibers or extruded strands and include an outer layerof latex or plastic. Such existing lacings wear, and retain theirposition, well, but can be quite hard, and are relatively smooth andslippery, particularly in wet play conditions. Even when such lacingshave a roughened exterior surface, they often remain quite slippery anddifficult to grasp, particularly in wet conditions. Hard, relativelysmooth or slippery lacings can contribute to poorly thrown passes,incompletions and fumbles. Others have attempted to solve these problemsby significantly changing the shape of the football or by applyingmultiple sets of lacings to a football. These types of proposedsolutions are radical departures from the design and look of atraditional American football. Not surprisingly, these types of radicaldesign changes are not widely accepted, particularly in organized play.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a lacing for a sports ball, such as afootball, that improves the gripping and tactile characteristics of thesports ball without radically departing from the ball's traditionaldesign. What is needed is a lacing that improves a player's ability topass, catch or grip a ball. Further, it would be advantageous to providea football and lacing that can be more readily thrown in a spiraltrajectory. What is also needed is a football that can contribute toreducing the number of fumbles, incompletions and poorly thrown ballsduring the course of a game or a season, particularly during inclementweather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a game ball including a casing anda lacing. The casing has a laced region. The lacing is coupled to thelaced region of the casing. The lacing has an exposed surface comprisedof an outer material that is compressible, resilient, and tactile. Theouter material has a modulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm²and a tensile strength between 100 and 650 kg/cm².

[0007] According to a principal aspect of a preferred form of theinvention, a game ball includes a casing and a lacing. The casing has alaced region. The lacing is coupled to the laced region of the casing.The lacing has an exposed surface. At least a portion of the exposedsurface of the lacing has a pebbled texture.

[0008] According to another preferred aspect of the invention provides agame ball includes a casing and a lacing. The casing has a laced region.The lacing is coupled to, and generally surrounds the laced region ofthe casing. The lacing includes an inner substrate attached to an outerlayer. The outer layer of the lacing has an exposed surface made of anouter material that is compressible, resilient, and tactile.

[0009] According to another preferred aspect of the invention provides alacing for a sporting goods product. The lacing includes an innersubstrate and an outer layer. The inner substrate is made of a hightensile strength material. The outer layer is coupled to the innersubstrate. The outer layer is made of a material that is soft,compressible, resilient, and tactile. The material of the outer layerhas a modulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm² and a tensilestrength between 100 and 650 kg/cm².

[0010] This invention will become more fully understood from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings described herein below, and wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an American football in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the football of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a sectional, front perspective view of a lacing of thefootball of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an American football according to analternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a sectional, front perspective view of a lacing of thefootball of FIG. 4.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a lacing in accordance withanother alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a lacing in accordance withanother alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a lacing in accordance withanother alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a lacing in accordance withanother alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a lacing in accordance withanother alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a lacing in accordance withanother alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an American football is indicatedgenerally at 10. The football 10 is one example of a laced sports ball.The present application is directly applicable to all laced sports ballsand other sporting goods products including, for example, footballs,rugby balls, soccer balls, basketballs, baseball mitts and volleyballs.

[0023] The football 10 is a generally prolate spheroidal shapedinflatable object having a major longitudinal dimension and a minortransverse dimension. The football 10 includes a casing 12, a bladder 14and a lacing 16. The casing 12 is a prolate spheroidal shaped outer bodypreferably formed from four quarter sections (first and second quartersections 18 and 20 are shown in FIG. 1) that are joined to one anotheralong longitudinal seams (a first longitudinal seam 22 is also shown inFIG. 1). The casing 12, when assembled, has first and second endportions 24 and 26 separated by a central portion 28. The centralportion 28 of the casing 12 includes a valve aperture 30 and alongitudinally extending slot 32 positioned in line with the firstlongitudinal seam 22 and between two parallel longitudinally extendingrows of spaced apart lace holes 34. The casing 12 is typically made ofleather, rubber or a synthetic polymeric plastic material. An outersurface of the casing 12 preferably includes a pebbled texture forenhancing the grip and improving the aesthetics of the football 10.

[0024] The bladder 14 is an inflatable air tube preferably having aprolate spheroidal shape. The bladder 14 is inserted into the casing 12through the slot 32. The bladder 14 enables the football 10 to retain apredetermined amount of air thereby achieving the desired firmness tothe football 10. The bladder 14 is typically made of latex, butyl rubberor other suitable material. The bladder 14 includes a valve 38 thatextends through the valve aperture 30 of the casing 12 for access by auser. In an alternative embodiment, the casing 12 and the bladder 14 canbe integrally formed together. In another alternative embodiment, thefootball can be formed without a bladder.

[0025] The lacing 16 is preferably a single elongate cord.Alternatively, the lacing 16 can include a plurality of cords. Thelacing 16 is threaded through the lace holes 34 of the casing 12. Thelacing 16 enables the two parallel longitudinally extending rows ofspaced apart lace holes 34 to be drawn together thereby closing the slot32 retaining the bladder 14 within the casing 12. When installed ontothe football 10, the lacing 16 preferably includes two substantiallyexposed longitudinally extending segments 40 and eight substantiallyexposed transversely extending segments 42. In alternative preferredembodiments, other numbers of substantially exposed longitudinal andtransverse segments 40 and 42 can be used. The longitudinal andtransverse segments 40 and 42 of the lacing outwardly extend from thecasing 12 to provide raised surfaces for a player to contact whenpassing, catching or holding onto the football 10. Players when passingthe football 10 will typically place one or more of their fingertipsonto the raised surfaces of the lacing 16 in order to throw a moreaccurate pass and to impart a spiral trajectory onto the thrown ball. Inone preferred embodiment, an installed lacing 16 has a length ofapproximately 4.5 inches.

[0026]FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the lacing 16. Thelacing 16 includes at least one elongate strand 44, an inner layer 46,and an outer layer 48. The strand 44 is formed of a high tensilestrength material, preferably nylon. In alternative preferredembodiments, the strand or strands 44 can be formed of polyester, metal,braided fibers, a high tensile strength polymer or combinations thereof.In a particularly preferred embodiment, three strands 14 are included ina spaced apart configuration within the lacing 16. The strand 44increases the tensile strength of the lacing 16 enabling the lacing 16to withstand significant stresses during use without failing.

[0027] The inner layer 46 surrounds the strands 44 within the lacing 16.The inner layer 46 is formed of a pliable material, preferably vinyl orplastic. Alternatively, other materials can be used, such as, forexample, a cloth, leather or other polymers. The inner layer 46 ispreferably formed with a generally uniform cross-sectional arearesembling a flattened oval. Alternatively, the inner layer 46 can havea circular cross-section or other shapes. The strands 44 and the innerlayer 46 are preferably produced as a co-extrusion. Alternatively, thestrands 44 alone can be extruded and the inner layer 46 can be attachedto, and substantially surround, the strands 44.

[0028] The outer layer 48 is a sheet of material that is preferablysoft, compressible, resilient, tactile, porous and spongy. The outerlayer 48 has an inner surface 50 and an outer surface 52. The innersurface 50 of the outer layer 48 is attached to, and preferablysubstantially surrounds, the inner layer 46. The outer layer 48 ispreferably affixed to the inner layer 46. In other alternativeembodiments, the outer layer 48 can be attached to the inner layer 46through stitching, stapling, mechanical bonding, heat bonding or otherconventional fastening means. The outer layer 48 provides the lacing 16,and in particular the exposed portions of the lacing 16, with a soft,tactile and resilient feel that enhances the player's ability to easilygrip, throw, or retain the football 10 when contacting the lacing 16.The outer layer 48 of the lacing 16 is preferably made of a wet processpolyurethane material. Alternatively, the outer layer 48 can be formedof other materials, such as, for example, dry process polyurethane, apolyvinylchloride foam, other polymers, other foams or combinationsthereof. The material of the outer layer preferably has a modulus ofelasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm² and a tensile strength ofbetween 100 and 650 kg/cm². In a particularly preferred embodiment, thematerial of the outer layer has a modulus of elasticity of between 30and 110 kg/cm² and a tensile strength between 450 and 600 kg/cm². Theouter surface 52 of the outer layer 48 includes a roughened texture.Further, the outer layer 48 of the lacing 16 preferably has a white or abrown color. Alternative colors or combination of colors are alsocontemplated.

[0029] Unlike existing lacings that typically include a relatively hard,and often slippery, outer surface, the soft tactile outer layer 48significantly improves the grip-ability of the lacing 16 therebyfacilitating the player's ability to firmly grasp, throw or catch thefootball 10. The outer layer 48 of the lacing 16 provides an increasedfrictional interaction between the lacing 16 and the fingertips of theplayer. The soft tactile outer layer 48 also enhances the player'sability to impart a spin onto the football 10. The tactile, compressibleand resilient outer layer 48 of the improved lacing 16 can also assistin reducing turnovers and incompletions and is well suited for inclementweather. Moreover, the lacing 16 provides the strength and durability ofa traditional lacing with a soft, tactile outer surface that improvesthe overall feel, grip-ability and performance of the lacing 16. Thelacing 16 is strong enough to withstand the stresses encountered duringnormal use without significantly wearing, fraying or elongating, whileimproving the overall feel of the lacing 16 to the user.

[0030]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in which the roughened texture or grain of the outersurface 52 of the lacing 16 includes a plurality of pebble-likeprojections 54. The lacing 16 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is substantially similarto the lacing 16 of FIGS. 1 through 3. The pebble-like projections 54provide the outer surface 52 of the lacing 16 with a pebbled texturethat is substantially similar to the grip enhancing pebbled outersurface present on the casing of conventional footballs. The pebble-likeprojections 54 are preferably convex, rounded and spaced apart from oneanother. The pebble-like projections 54 further improve the player'sability to grip the football 10 and they also provide the lacing 16 witha unique appealing aesthetic. In an alternative preferred embodiment,the outer surface 52 of the lacing 16 can include a plurality of concavepebble-like projections. In other embodiments, the outer surface 52 canbe cross-hatched, grainy, grooved or otherwise irregular to roughen thetexture of the lacing 16.

[0031] The pebble-like projections 54 are preferably embossed, using asuitable stamping or rolling device under pressure and/or temperature,onto the outer surface 52 of the outer layer 48. Alternatively, thepebble-like projections 54 can be applied to the outer surface 52 viainjection or compression molding. In another alternative preferredembodiment, the pebbled texture can be applied to the outer surface ofvirtually any type of lacing, such as, for example, a urethane or lateximpregnated cloth lacing, a braided fiber lacing, a plastic lacing, arubber lacing, and a leather lacing. In another alternative preferredembodiment, the pebble-like projections 54 are included on one of eitherthe transverse segments 42 and the longitudinal segments 40. In anotheralternative preferred embodiment, the pebble-like projections are formedonto a portion of the outer surface 52 of the lacing 16.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, in an alternative preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the outer layer 48 is attached to, andsubstantially covers, an outer (otherwise exposed) side 56 of the innerlayer 46 of the lacing 16. In this embodiment, the soft, compressible,resilient and tactile outer layer 48 can be positioned on the outer side56 of the lacing 16 while the remaining surfaces of the inner layer 46of the lacing 16 are substantially uncovered by the outer layer 48.Placement of the outer layer 48 onto the outer side 56 of the innerlayer 46 reduces the amount of material used to form the lacing 16.Moreover, placement of the outer layer 48 onto only the outer side 56 ofthe inner layer 46 reduces the overall thickness and weight of thelacing 16. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the outer surface 52of the outer layer 48 includes a pebbled texture.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, another alternative preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrated. The outer layer 48 is placed ontoan outer surface 56 of the inner layer 46 and onto an inner surface 58of the inner layer 46 leaving the remaining surfaces of the lacingsubstantially uncovered. In this preferred embodiment, the thickness ofthe lacing 16 is substantially unchanged from the preferred embodimentof the lacing 16 of FIGS. 1 through 3. In a particularly preferredembodiment, the outer surface 42 of the outer layer 48 includes apebbled texture.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 8, another alternative embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated. A lacing 116 includes a substrate 146and an outer layer 148. The outer layer 148 is substantially similar tothe outer layer 48. The substrate 146 is a conventional lacing formedfrom a known lacing material, such as, for example, woven cloth, unwovencloth, urethane or latex impregnated carrier cloth, nylon, plastic,braided fibers, rope, metal wire, leather, or a combination thereof. Thelacing 116 has a circular cross-sectional shape. Other cross-sectionalshapes are also contemplated. In a particularly preferred embodiment,the outer layer 148 includes a pebbled outer surface.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, additional preferred embodiments ofthe present invention are illustrated. The lacing 216 is formed of asingle continuous material that is soft, compressible, resilient andtactile. The material of the lacing 216 is substantially similar to thematerial of the outer layer 48. The lacing 216 can be formed in acircular or oval cross-sectional area. Other cross-sectional shapes arealso contemplated. In a particularly preferred embodiment, an outersurface 252 of the lacing 216 is pebbled.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 11, another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. A lacing 316 is shown in a shape resembling anassembled lacing. The lacing 316 preferably includes two longitudinallace segments 318 and eight transverse lace segments 320. In otherpreferred embodiments, other numbers and combinations of longitudinaland transverse lace segments 318 and 320 can be used. Each lace segment320 can be formed to outwardly extend from the longitudinal lacesegments 318 curve downward and then back toward the longitudinal lacesegments. The lacing 316 can be molded as a single piece resembling anassembled lace. Alternatively, the longitudinal and transverse segments318 and 320 can be formed separately and subsequently connected to eachother to form the lacing 316. The lace segments 320 are configured toattach to the football 10 at the lace holes 34 (see FIG. 1). The lacing316 is substantially similar to the lacing 16 of FIGS. 1 through 3. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, the lacing 316 includes an outerlayer 348 with a pebbled outer surface 352.

[0037] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen described and illustrated, numerous departures therefrom can becontemplated by persons skilled in the art, for example, the lacing canbe a generally longitudinally ridge outwardly extending from the casingof the football. An outer layer of the ridge can be formed of a soft,compressible, tactile and resilient material, and an outer surface ofthe ridge can include a pebbled texture. Therefore, the presentinvention is not limited to the foregoing description but only by thescope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game ball comprising: a casing having a lacedregion; and a lacing coupled to the laced region of the casing, thelacing having an exposed surface comprised of an outer material that iscompressible, resilient, and tactile, the outer material having amodulus of elasticity of between 14 and 170 kg/cm² and a tensilestrength between 100 and 650 kg/cm².
 2. The game ball of claim 1,wherein the lacing further comprises an inner substrate coupled to anouter layer.
 3. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the outer layer isattached to the inner substrate using a means selected from the groupconsisting of adhesive bonding, stitching, stapling, mechanical bonding,heat bonding and combinations thereof.
 4. The game ball of claim 2,wherein the inner substrate is formed from one or more inner materialsselected from the group consisting of a woven cloth, a non-woven cloth,a urethane impregnated cloth, at least one nylon strand, at least onepolyester strand, braided fibers, plastic, latex, vinyl, a rope, a wire,a leather strip and a combination thereof.
 5. The game ball of claim 2wherein the inner substrate includes at least one strand of a hightensile strength material and a plastic generally surrounding to thestrand.
 6. The game ball of claim 5 wherein the at least one strand isformed of a strand material selected from the group consisting of apolyester, a nylon, a metal and a polymer.
 7. The game ball of claim 1wherein the outer material has a modulus of elasticity of between 30 and110 kg/cm² and a tensile strength between 450 and 600 kg/cm².
 8. Thegame ball of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the exposed surfaceincludes a pebbled texture.
 9. The game ball of claim 1 wherein theouter material is selected from the group consisting of a wet processpolyurethane, a dry process polyurethane, a polyvinylchloride foam, anda combination thereof.
 10. The game ball of claim 1 wherein the casinghas a generally prolate spheroidal shape having a major longitudinaldimension and a minor transverse dimension, wherein the casing has acentral portion disposed between first and second end portions, whereinthe laced region is disposed on the central portion, and wherein thelacing includes at least one longitudinally extending segment and aplurality of transversely extending segments.
 11. The game ball of claim10, wherein the plurality of transversely extending segments compriseseight transversely extending segments.
 12. The game ball of claim 2,wherein the inner substrate has a top side and a bottom side, andwherein the outer layer is attached only to the top side.
 13. The gameball of claim 2, wherein the inner substrate has a top side and a bottomside, and wherein the outer layer is attached only to the top side andthe bottom side.
 14. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the outer layersubstantially surrounds the inner substrate.
 15. The game ball of claim1, wherein the casing is substantially and primarily formed in a firstcolor and the exposed surface of the lacing is formed in a second color,and wherein the first and second colors are substantially the samecolor.
 16. The game ball of claim 1 wherein the casing is substantiallyand primarily formed in a first color and the exposed surface of thelacing is formed in a second color, and wherein the first and secondcolors are different colors.
 17. A game ball comprising: a casing havinga laced region; and a lacing coupled to the laced region of the casing,the lacing having an exposed surface, at least a portion of the exposedsurface of the lacing having a pebbled texture.
 18. The game ball ofclaim 17, wherein the entire exposed surface of the lacing includes thepebbled texture.
 19. The game ball of claim 17, wherein the lacingfurther comprises an inner substrate and an outer layer, wherein theouter layer includes the exposed surface, and wherein the innersubstrate is formed from one or more materials selected from the groupconsisting of a woven cloth, a non-woven cloth, a urethane impregnatedcloth, at least one nylon strand, at least one polyester strand, a metalwire, a plastic, a vinyl, a polymer, a latex, a rope, a leather stripand a combination thereof.
 20. The game ball of claim 17 wherein theinner substrate includes at least one strand of a high tensile strengthmaterial, and a plastic attached to and generally surrounding thestrand.
 21. The game ball of claim 19 wherein the outer layer is made ofan outer material selected from the group consisting of a wet processpolyurethane, a dry process polyurethane, a polyvinylchloride foam, anda combination thereof.
 22. The game ball of claim 17 wherein the casinghas a generally prolate spheroidal shape having a major longitudinaldimension and a minor transverse dimension, wherein the casing has acentral portion disposed between first and second end portions, whereinthe laced region is disposed on the central portion, and wherein thelacing includes at least one longitudinally extending segment and aplurality of transversely extending segments.
 23. The game ball of claim17 wherein the casing is substantially and primarily formed in a firstcolor and the exposed surface of the lacing is formed in a second color,and wherein the first and second colors are substantially the samecolor.
 24. The game ball of claim 17 wherein the casing is substantiallyand primarily formed in a first color and the exposed surface of thelacing is formed in a second color, and wherein the first and secondcolors are different colors.
 25. The game ball of claim 17 wherein thecasing includes a plurality of lace holes and wherein the lacing isthreaded to the casing through the lace holes.
 26. The game ball ofclaim 17 wherein the lacing is integrally formed to the casing.
 27. Agame ball comprising: a casing having a laced region; and a lacingcoupled to and generally surrounding the laced region of the casing, thelacing including an inner substrate attached to an outer layer, theouter layer of the lacing having an exposed surface made of an outermaterial that is compressible, resilient, and tactile.
 28. The game ballof claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the exposed surface includesa pebbled texture.
 29. A lacing for a sporting goods product, the lacingcomprising: an inner substrate of high tensile strength material; and anouter layer coupled to the inner substrate, the outer layer being madeof a material that is soft, compressible, resilient, and tactile, thematerial of the outer layer having a modulus of elasticity of between 14and 170 kg/cm² and a tensile strength between 100 and 650 kg/cm². 30.The lacing of claim 29, wherein the sporting goods product is selectedfrom the group consisting of an American football, a volleyball, asoccer ball, a basketball, a rugby ball, and a baseball mitt.
 31. Thelacing of claim 29, wherein the outer layer is coupled to the innersubstrate using a means selected from the group consisting of adhesivebonding, stitching, stapling, mechanical bonding, heat bonding andcombinations thereof.
 32. The lacing of claim 29, wherein the innersubstrate is formed from at least one material selected from the groupconsisting of a woven cloth, a non-woven cloth, a urethane impregnatedcloth, at least one nylon strand, at least one polyester strand, aplastic, a metal wire, a polymer, a latex, a rope, a leather strip and acombination thereof
 33. The lacing of claim 29 wherein the innersubstrate includes at least one strand of a high tensile strengthmaterial and a plastic attached to the strand.
 34. The lacing of claim29 wherein the material of the outer layer has a modulus of elasticityof between 30 and 110 kg/cm² and a tensile strength between 450 and 600kg/cm².
 35. The lacing of claim 29 wherein the outer layer has anexposed surface, and wherein at least a portion of the exposed surfaceis pebbled.
 36. The lacing of claim 29 wherein the material of the outerlayer is selected from the group consisting of a wet processpolyurethane, a dry process polyurethane, a polyvinylchloride foam, anda combination thereof.
 37. The lacing of claim 29, wherein the innersubstrate has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the outer layeris attached only to the top side.
 38. The lacing of claim 29, whereinthe inner substrate has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein theouter layer is attached only to the top side and the bottom side. 39.The lacing of claim 29, wherein the outer layer substantially surroundsthe inner substrate.